EX-PATIENTS of a Gwynedd health worker diagnosed with hepatitis C have proved positive for the disease, say health chiefs.

But officials insisted there was no evidence to link the positive tests to the worker.

Instead, the National Public Health Service (NPHS) for Wales and Gwynedd Local Health Board have emphasised it was “inevitable” that positive results would be found in such a large number of tests.

A major screening programme began on May 31 when up to 5,000 former patients were contacted.

More than 2,400 were given blood tests at clinics, mainly in Dwyfor and Meirionnydd.

Scare rumours abounded over the dentist’s identity and where he had practised. In mid-June he broke his silence but kept his anonymity in a public statement.

He said he was concerned about the “health and well-being” of ex-patients, the risk of catching the rare hepatitis C virus from him was minimal, and he was free of it since being diagnosed last October, after 30 years of conscientious health care work.

Last week, the final blood test clinics were held, and many patients have received their results. Testing for a small number is still being carried out by GPs.

Further investigation, through a case-control study, is now underway, with results available by the end of this month.

Dr Sandra Payne, North Wales regional director for the NPHS, said: “Since the look back exercise started, the NHS Direct helpline has taken 4,966 calls – 2,300 people made clinic appointments and we have so far issued 2,445 test results.

“As we expected, the vast majority of these results have been completely normal. This confirms that the risk to patients has been extremely low.

“It is inevitable when testing a large number of people that some will have positive results, reflecting background levels of infection in the population.

“This does not mean that infection was passed on by the health care worker. Indeed, we currently have no evidence that a single person has been infected in this way.”

Dr Payne added: “Now the test results are becoming available, we will carry out a case-control study to identify risk factors in the patients testing positive.

“This will involve interviewing all those with positive tests, as well as a larger number of patients with negative results.

“We will use the results to determine whether we should be offering testing to any of those patients who have not so far been identified as at risk.

“We will then seek advice from the United Kingdom Advisory Panel on Blood Borne Viruses as to whether any further action is required,” she concluded.